The Week in Reviews, Op. 529: Vadim Gluzman, Sergey Khachatryan, Kala Ramnath

December 8, 2025, 9:05 PM · In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews.

Violinist Vadim Gluzman. Photo by Marco Borggreve.

Vadim Gluzman performed Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Utah Symphony and Markus Poschner.

Utah Arts Review: "The Ukrainian-born violinist gave an impassioned reading that delved into the complex emotional fabric of the work....Gluzman captured the emotions Shostakovich expresses here with heartfelt playing that was mirrored by Poschner’s sensitive accompaniment."

Sergey Khachatryan performed Aram Khachaturian's Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Pietari Inkinen.

EarRelevant: "...he quickly settled into a focused, agile performance, negotiating rapid-fire passages, lyrical flights, and double-stopped chords with clarity and assurance. His virtuosity became increasingly evident as the concerto progressed, particularly in the whirlwind finale, where his articulation and stamina proved exceptional."

Kala Ramnath performed Reena Esmail's Concerto for Hindustani Violin with the Albany Symphony.

Albany Times Union: "Early on, the violin solo and the orchestral strings blended so well that it was tough to discern one from the other, and that could have been a deliberate message of kinship. With a presence that supersedes music, Ramnath wasn’t ever totally lost in the mix. She also sang in the last movement. "

Simone Lamsma performed Korngold's Violin Concerto with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Rafael Payare.

Bach Track: "Lamsma's impassioned and profound interpretation made it impossible to dismiss this composition as mere cinematic glitz....Lamsma treated every phrase as a living, breathing line of poetry."

Trio Azura performed works by Haydn, Ravel and Mendelssohn for The Music Guild in Los Angeles.

Violinist.com: "There was tenderness, insistence, dance, sparkle - amazing indeed, what just three musicians can create."

Violinist Sean Claire, violist Joshua Ulrich, cellist Adam Ayers and pianist Ryan Fogg performed works by Schumann and Fauré for the Knoxville Chamber Music Society.

Arts Knoxville: "The ensemble was tight and confident, as their musical give-and-take created a roadmap for hearing the myriad nuances hidden in these compositional treasures."

Nemanja Radulovic performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Giedre Šlekyte.

Edinburgh Music Review: "I have never heard the concerto so wonderfully performed, with enormously daring rubato, pianissimi, double-stopping and savagely wild virtuosity, all in complete accord and harmony with Ms Šlekyte and the RSNO."
Vox Carnyx: "The opening movement proved a kaleidoscopic voyage of discovery, the heightened characterisation of its constituent themes intensifying the impact of its conclusion. Beyond the laid-back calm of the slow movement, the daredevil rapidity of the Finale shot the temperature off the scale. This was showmanship and sincerity in absolute harmony."
Bach Track: "The violin’s first entry was disarmingly lyrical, understated even, as though the soloist was a shy character only reluctantly taking centre stage, and the whole first movement unfolded slowly, luxuriously and very beautifully."

Daniel Lozakovich performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Lawrence Foster.

Bach Track: "The soloist, the young Swede Daniel Lozakovich, grabbed the audience’s attention from the start with his sweet tone, expressive playing of the work’s glorious melodies and his apparently effortless virtuosity. His quiet playing in the slow movement was breathtaking."

Josef Špacek Jr. performed Thomas Adès' "Air – Homage to Sibelius" with the Czech Philharmonic and Thomas Adès.

Bach Track: "Špacek offered virtuoso solo work, playing with soulful tenderness. And his 1732 Guarneri gave the sound a golden glow."

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